Artist Shawn Colvin

Shawn Colvin was identified early on as part of the ’90s “new-folk” movement, but crossed over precisely because she’s not really a folkie. Her breakthrough album, 1996’s A Few Small Repairs, found huge sales and Grammy awards with warm, glossy pop that hinted at folk without hewing to the genre’s limitations. Her latest studio album, 2006’s These Four Walls, was mostly ignored, but 2009’s Shawn Colvin Live hit a more resonant chord, earning a Grammy nod and some of the best reviews of her latter career. Small wonder: Her warm, intimate performances tend to translate better than her records anyway.

Updated 04/25/2012